Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses public funding for broadband communications in rural and remote areas of Spain

The European Commission on 7 April 2005 authorised, under the EU state aid rules, a Spanish subsidy scheme which aimed at boosting investments in broadband communications in rural and remote areas. The measure, which was to be co-financed by EU funds, was aimed at improving the availability of access to high-speed communication services for citizens and businesses in underserved regions of Spain. The Commission concluded that the aid was not likely to cause undue distortion of competition within the Single Market and was therefore compatible with EC Treaty state aid rules (Article 87).